New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-28
APOLOGIzIyG FOR 4 COLOR LINE ORDER
NEGRO MILITIA NOT TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE
CHICAGO CONVENTION.

NEGRO MILITIA NOT TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE
CHICAGO CONVENTION.
CHICAGO, July 27 tSpecidil. management ot
the International Encampment, which Is 10 be held
here has obliged to revoke the ordsr excluding
colored companies almost as quickly as President
Cleveland called back his bel flag order. The order
called out q storm OF indignation among decent and
beralminded people, and the expression OF opinion
on the subject 80 pronounced that Tho Board oil
Managers OF the encampnert at meeting held Tor
that purpose directed that the order be revoked.
General Bently is In q card OF explanation AS fol-
lows:
During the national military encampment at Wash
iugton In MAY considerable feeling was manifested be-
cause OF the presence ot ored troops As matter
of fact they admitted, but were osrsciEed by be-
ing denied certain privileges extended to other troops
We reserved the right to reject anv application for
entry and it 10 not wish TO accept the entry OF any
organization. white or colOte winch will Interfere
with perfect harmony among the troops
There also few coored comYanies In the
National Guard, and prior to tho ehcampment 81
Washington no application tor entry bad been made by
a cJlored company at any military encampneDt Oh
national character. ,
To the propo sed encampmebt at Chicago no sppca-
ton for entry has vet been received from any colored
company. IL certainly Is desirable that perfect
harmony prevail among the visiting organizations,
and viewing tho matter much as would IN inviting
neghbors visit me- did not think It wise to cause
friction by bringing uncongenial guests together.
Therefore, acting solely on my own judgment, and
without consulting others interested IN the ehcamp-
ment rendered my decision.
Commenting on tbi. " The Eve.nng Journal says:
II is difficult to measured language In speaking
of the disgraced defence Tor disgraceiul act. The
explanation is il possible, greater oncnco than the
original oider IL shows that the order was deliber-
ately issued. and not through mere mistaken I'M
pul-e. 10 is In one acknowledgment that the
Southern rufians and Ku-klux VINO appeared at tho
Washington encsmpment we're not 10 be censured Tor
their brutal conduct toward the cOored troops VINO
appeared there. Rather than to have repetition OF
such scedes in Chicago the general manager thought
it advisable to exclude, not the roush' and builes
who caused the trouble. but tho peaceaoe. polite and
we-disciplined colored soldiers who were made the
victims of in-ult and outrage lie says that he acted
as he would in inviting guests on hi, own account
Woald he then exclude decent, kindly, wel-disposed
neigh oors aud friends, because. II they should be
present, some unnanuery and trdculent rascal; also
In the company might pick quarrel with them The
general manager says that he Issued this color line
order while IN Europe. l. mag be taken for granted
that he saw nothing there indecent aud discredi-
able az his order. nor anything which might have
prompted ts issue. The order has been revoked by
The Encam pment Board but 1t al ould notwithstand-
ing. be properly chara cterzed, and the excuse and
defence put forward in its behalf by its author should
share In the censurc.